Storm window assembly



Jan. 4, 1949. M. JENNESS 2,458,385

s'roma wmnow ASSEMBLY Filed larch 9', 1945 s Sheets-Sheet 1 Jan. 4*, 1949. M. JENNESS I STORM wmnow ASSEMBLY Filed March 9, 1945 3 Shoots-Sheet 2- 3 2C mvizzvron.

laydonflnlzznesfi BY M, M' M YIIIIIIIIA V M. JENNESS 2,458,385

swonm wmnow ASSEMBLY 3 Shets-Sheet 3 Jan. 4, 1949.

Filed March 9, 1945 Patented Jan. 4, 1949 STORM WINDOW ASSEMBLY Langdon M. Je'nness, Palos Heights, 111., assignor to Worth Insulation & Mfg. Co. Inc., a corporation of Illinois Application March 9, 1945, Serial No. 581,780

3 Claims. 1

The present invention relates to improvements in storm window assemblies, and more particularly to an improved multi-sash storm window assembly in which the sashes may be easily mounted upon and removed from their supports, and which may be used to provide a completely sealed cover over a window aperture.

A conventional one-piece storm sash is not only diflicult to install, but is equally difflcult to put up and remove after the supporting hardware has been installed. Thus, installation, removal and replacement of a conventional storm sash can only be accomplished from outside the dwelling in which the installation is made. Moreover, the usual sash of this character provides inadequate weather protection, due to the difflculty in obtaining an effective weather seal between the edges of the sash and the window frame. The problem and expense involved in installing a multi-sash assemblywithin the restricted margin of a Window frame which is disposed between the outside of the upper window sash and the outer edge of the frame, and in removing and putting up the sashes after installation, has prevented this form of storm sash assembly from meeting with popular approval. Specifically, if a twosash storm window assembly employing thick storm sash frames of rugged construction is used, the combined thicknesses of the two sashes prevents the assembly from being mounted within the outer margin of the window frame. As a result, special frame members must be provided to build out the window frame to the extent required to accommodate the combined thicknesses of the sashes and respective mounting facilities. On the other hand, if very thin storm sashes are used to cut down the combined thicknesses thereof to the extent required for accommodation within the outer window frame margin, the sashes become fragile, expensive to manufacture, and diificult if not impossible to repair when the glass panes are broken therein. Moreover, the usual multi-sash arrangement of this character requires lowering of the upper window sash as well as raising of the lower window sash, in order to mount the upper and lower storm sashes upon their supports and to remove the storm sashes from their supports. Frequently, and particularly in old houses, the upper window sashes are locked in place either by paint seals between the sash and window frames or by swelling of the sash and window frames. Hence, great difiiculty is encountered in installing or removing the outer storm sashes.

It is an object of the present invention, there'- fore, to provide an improved multi-sash storm window assembly which may be easily installed within the available outer margin of a standard window frame to provide a completely sealed cover for the window aperture.

It is another object of the invention to provide a storm window assembly of the character described, in which each sash of the assembly may be removed from and replaced upon the storm sash supports through the lower window sash opening without lowering the upper window sash.

It is a further object of the invention to provide an improved storm sash assembly of the character described in which one of the storm sashes is readily adjustable to provide for controlled ventilation.

It is still another object of the invention to provide an improved, rugged and weather sealed storm window sash of economical construction, which requires a mounting space along the sides of a window frame of no greater or less width than the thickness of its own frame and yet is so constructed that the window pane provided therein may be easily and rapidly replaced.

Other objects of the invention are to provide improved, compact and simple facilities for weather sealing the sashes around the edges thereof, and for releasably locking one of the storm sashes in its assembled position upon the storm sash supports, and to provide an overall structure which is rugged, inexpensive and. pleasing in appearance.

Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. l'is an inside elevational view of a regular window from which the regular window sashes have been removed and which window is provided with'the present improved storm sash assembly;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged broken sectional view taken along the lines 2-2 in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the lines 3-3 in Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a broken sectional view taken along the lines 4-4 in Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view, partially in section, illustrating the lower right hand corner of the storm sash assembly as seen from inside the window;

Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken along the lines 6-6 in Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary view illustrating the details of the assembly for locking the upper storm sash in its raised position;

Fig. 3 is a partially sectionalized underside view of the facilities shown in Fig. 7;

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary sectional view illustrating the structural arrangement of a screen sash which may be substituted for the lower storm sash in the assembly shown in Fig. 1; and

Fig. is a view similar to Fig. 4 and partially in section illustrating the manner in which the lower storm sash may be installed.

Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to Figs. 1 to 4, inclusive, thereof, the present improved storm window assembly is there illustrated as comprising an upper storm sash l0 and a lower storm sash l which are fitted within and supported upon the frame |2 of a window provided in a wall i3 of a house, and are of lesser width than the window aperture. The upper storm sash I9 is assembled in weather sealing engagement with L-shaped supporting strips 28 and 29 which are mounted upon the opposed side members of the frame I2 to the outside of the regular window sashes l1 and i8 above the lower storm sash The latter storm sash is slideably supported by channeled slide members and 2| which are likewise carried by the side members of the window frame I2 and are disposed inwardly from the supporting strips 28 and 29.

In accordance with one feature of the present invention, the described supporting facilities are so mounted within the window frame I 2 that the lateral space 9 provided between the upper ends of the slide members 20 and 2| and the lower edge of. the upper window sash i1 is at least equal to, and preferably slightly greater than the maximum thickness of either of the two storm sashes l0 and ii. With this arrangement, the upper storm sash in may be mounted upon its supporting strips 28 and 29 from inside the house by inserting the same through the lower the same through the lower window sash aper-,

ture and upward through the space 9, engaging the side edges of this storm sash with the slide members 20 and 2| and then pulling the sash downward, all in the manner shown in Fig. 10 of the drawings. Similarly, the space 9 between the lower edge of the upper window sash l1 and the adjacent upper ends of the slide members 29 and 2| permits ready removal of either of the two storm sashes Hi and II through the lower window sash opening. Thus, the arrangement is such that the storm sashes may be mounted upon and removed from their respective supporting facilities from the'inside ,of the house without lowering the upper window sash H.

In accordance with another feature of the invention, the lower storm sash II is provided with thin side fins which are slideably received within the channeled slide members 20 and 2| and have a thickness which is only a fraction of the overall thickness of the sash frame. This prevents the size of the space 9 from being limited by the combined thicknesses of the two storm sashes in that it permits the use of slide members 20 and 2| of lesser thickness than the thickness of the lower storm sash frame and hence permits the space 9 to be of relatively large size. Since the dimension of this space is the limiting factor in determining the thickness of the storm sash frame, frames of greater thickness are permissible. Thus the ruggedness of the storm sashes is substantially enhanced. Equally important by increasing .the thickness of each storm sash frame the available space within the inner edge of each frame is increased sufficiently to permit the use of screw mounted facilities for clamping the glass pane in place within the frame. This permits easy replacement of a broken glass pane without destruction of the sash frame.

As will be observed from Figs. 2, 3 and 4 of the drawings, the window frame i2 is of substantially standard construction, being provided with the usual parting bead I4 around the frame side members I21: and |2b and the frame top member |2c to separate the upper and lower window sashes l1 and I8, and with a lower outwardly sloping sill |2d against which the lower edge of the lower window sash I8 bears when this sash occupies its closed position. The runway for the lower window sash is completed by providing the usual inner stop l5 which extends around the top member I20 and the side members |2a and |2b of the window frame. Similarly, the runway for the upper window sash i1 is completed by providing the usual blind stop |6c along the outer edges of the frame side and top members. The

frame l2 further comprises the usual outside trim members l9a, I91: and |9c which are set back from the opposed inner edges of the blind stops IS in order to provide a supporting frame for screens of conventional construction.

As indicated above, the parts of the present improved storm sash assembly are of such dimensions that they may all be mounted within the space defined by the combined thicknesses of the blind stop members l6 and the trim members i9, with enough of this space being left unused to permit removal and placement of the two storm sashes through the space 9 and the lower window sash opening.

In the installation of the assembly, the space between the side frame members |6a, |9a, I52) and l9b is first filled out by nailing L-shaped filler members 22 and 23 to the edges of the opposed pairs of identified frame members, these filler members being accurately formed in cross section to conform to the stepped surfaces defined by the edges of the frame members l6 and 19. After the filler members are installed, the channeled slide members 20 and 2| may be screwed or nailed to the filler members along the inner lower edge portions thereof, and screws indicated at 39 and 3| may be employed in mounting the L-shaped supporting strips 28 and 29 upon the upper portions of the filler members 22 and 23 to the outside of the slide members 20 and 2|.

As pointed out more specifically below, the upper storm sash i9 is comprised of an outer metal frame, the side and top edges of which are provided with thin fins Illa, I01) and Illc of substantially less thickness than the overall thickness of the frame. The top fin I lie is adapted to be received within a channel defined by mounting two L-shaped weather strips 32 and 33 along the under edge of the upper trim member I90, and the portions 32a and 33a of these two strips, which define the channel for receiving the fin lllc, are so spaced that this fin must be forced therebetween in mounting the sash I8 upon the supporting strips 28 and 29, whereby a weather tight seal is provided between the strips 32 and 33 and the fin illc. The side fins Illa and l8b of the upper storm sash III are adapted to be forced into weather sealing eengagement with the supporting strips 28 and 29 by means of a pair of locking and camming assemblies disposed along the lower edge of the storm sash meeting rail I 0d at opposite ends thereof. These assemblies are of identical construction and respectively comprise locking slides 31 and 38' slidably supported along the lower edge of the meeting rail llld entirely within the thickness of this rail. More specifically and as best shown in Figs. 7 and 8 of the drawings, the slide rail 31 is provided with a downwardly extending actuating part 31a, and is slotted as indicated at 48 to receive supporting screws 39 which are threaded into the meeting rail Illd. The outer end of the slide 31 is adapted to be slid over the locking part 43 of an L-shaped bracket member 4i which is screw mounted upon the filler member 22. For the purpose of forcing the lower end of the sash I0 toward the supporting strips 28 and 29 as the slide 31 is moved to overlie the locking part 42, this slide is provided with a camming part 31b extending downward from one edge thereof which is adapted to engage a camming surface 43a provided along the outer edge of the locking part 43. With this arrangement, it is only necessary to pull the slides 31 and 38 toward the center of the sash ill in order to release this sash for removal. Incident to this operation, the slide 31 is disengaged from the locking part 42 and the slide 38 is disengaged from the corresponding locking element carried by the filler member 23, whereby the lower end of the sash I0 may be pulled inwardly and then down through the space 9 for removal through the opening defined by the lower window sash I8. Incident to such downward movement, the upper fin I no is obviously disengaged from the window strips 32 and 33 without interference. In order to lock the upper storm sash III in place after it has been postioned upon the supporting strips 28 and 29 with the fin lllc thereof inserted between the weather strips 32 and 33, it is only necessary to push the slides 31 and 38 outward from the center of the sash to engage the same with the two locking elements. Incident to such operation of the slide 31, the camming part 31b rides up the camming edge 43a of the locking part 43, thereby to force the lower end of the sash I0 outward and thus bring the side fins Illa and Hit) thereof into weather sealing engagement with the strips 28 and 29. Also incident to such movement of the slide 31, the outer end thereof is moved to overlie the locking part 43 thereby positively to lock the sash l8 against downward movement. Thus, it will be apparent that the supporting facilities for the upper storm sash ID are so arranged that the upper and side edges are completely sealed against the entrance of wind and moisture therethrough.

In like manner, the facilities for supporting the lower storm sash II are such that when this sash occupies its closed position, weather tight Ill seals are provided along all edges thereof. Specifically, the lower storm sash is also provided with thin-fins Ila, llb and Ilc along the side and bottom edges thereof. These fins have a thickness which is only a minor fraction of the overall thickness of the sash II. This structural arrangement contributes directly to the support of the two storm sashes within the marginal edges of the frame members It and IS in the described novel manner such that both sashes may be removed from their supporting facilities without lowering of the upper window sash I'I, since it permits the use of slide members 20 and 2| of minimum thickness, 1. e. a thickness not greater than and preferably substantially less than the thickness of the sash II. In order to produce weather sealing engagement between the side fins Ila and Ill) of the sash II and the outer sides of the slide members 20 and 2 I bowed leaf spring 24 and 25 are respectively provided within the channeled slide members to press against the fins Ila and Ilb respectively. This construction is best illustrated in Fig. 6 of the drawings, wherein the bowed leaf springs 24 are shown as extending longitudinally of the channeled slide member 28 to press the fin I la against the outer side of this slide member as the sash II is lowered to its closed position. Each spring 24 is anchored at one end only to the inner side of the slide member 20 by means of rivets 26, so that the opposite end thereof is free to move back and forth longitudinally of the slide memher.

In addition to performing the described function of producing weather sealing engagement of the fins Ho and Nb with the outer sides of the slide members 20 and 2|, the springs 24 and 25 also assist in holding the lower storm sash II in any position to which it may be elevated for ventilation purposes. In fact, by providing springs of sufficient stiffness, frictional holding may alone be relied upon to restrain the lower storm sash l I in any desired raised position thereof. Preferably, however, supplementary means, comprising locking slides 34 disposed along the lower edge of the sash I l at opposite ends thereof and arranged to be selectively engaged with holding recesses 36 provided along the inner edges of the slide members 28 and 2|, are supplied to provide for positive locking of the sash II in predetermined elevated positions. It is specifically noted that the slides 34 are mounted wholly within the space defined beneath the lower edge of thesash II by the lower fin IIc, each slide being supported in this position by screws extending through the slide slot and threaded into the lower frame member of the sash.

For the purpose of weather sealing the lower storm sash ll along the lower edge thereof when this sash is closed, an L-shaped weather strip 32 is nailed to the sill I2d of the frame l2 for stressed engagement with the fin I lc at the inner side thereof. Weep holes 320 are provided at longitudinally spaced points along the upstanding part of the strip 32 to provide for water drainage therethrough when the sash II is only partially closed or a screen sash is substituted for the storm sash in the assembly. As best shown in Fig. 4 of the drawings, these weep holes are completely closed by the fin lie when the sash II occupies its fully closed position.

In order to provide a weather seal between the meeting rails id and Ild of the two storm sashes I0 and II, interlocking weather strips 44 and 45 are provided along the adjacent surfaces of these rails. Specifically, the strip 44 is screwed or otherwise secured to the inner surface of the meeting rail id and is provided with a spaced upper portion adapted for interlocking engagement with the spaced portion of the weather strip 45 which is screwed to the meeting rail I Id along the upper edge thereof. With this arrangement the spaced parts of the strips 44 and 45 are moved into interlocking relationship to provide a weather tight seal between the rails Mid and lid as the sash i i is lowered to its closed position.

As will be evident from the above explanation, the storm sashes i and ii are constructed to be as thin as possible and are of metal frame construction. They are respectively provided with glass panes 41 and 52 which are weather sealed at their edges to their respectively supporting frames. Specifically, the frame of the upper storm sash ID is of four-part construction, the side and top parts of which are of double L- shaped cross section in order to provide the described fins liia, "lb and I00. This might also be described as being substantially Z-shaped in cross section with a central hollow portion and fins extending in opposite directions from the central portion. The lower frame member is-of single L-shaped cross section. With this construction, a supporting ledge 46 is provided within the inner margin of the frame. The structure is completed by encasing the peripheral edge of the pane 41 within a felt strip 50 and utilizing a bead 48, screw connected to the frame, to press the peripherally encased edges of the pane against the supporting ledge 46. The lower storm sash I I is of substantially identical construction as will be readily apparent from Fig. 4 of the drawings.

As indicated above, a screen sash 33 may, if desired, be substituted for the lower storm sash i i in the assembly. In general and as best shown in Fig. 9 of the drawings, the frame of this screen sash is substantially similar in construction to that of the upper storm sash Ill. It differs from this construction, however, in that the supporting ledge 46 is extended and bent outwardy as indicatecl at 46b to form a screen clamping channel 450 within which a clamping rail 54 may be received. With this structural arrangement, the marginal edge of the screen 55 may be clamped against the lip 46b by the simple expedient of inserting the rail 54 within the channel 460. The manner in which the screen sash 53 may be assembled upon and removed from the slide members 20 and 2| through the opening defined by the lower window sash i8 and without lowering the upper window sash i1 is exactly the same as explained above with reference to removal and replacement of the lower storm sash ii.

From the above explanation, it will be readily apparent that the present improved storm window assembly provides a completely weather sealed covering over the window aperture defined by the two regular window sashes I1 and I8. It will also be apparent that both storm sashes of this assembly. may be installed or removed from inside the building in which the assembly is installed, and that such installation and removal may be accomplished without movement of the upper window sash l1. Further, and due to the fact that the sash supporting and locking parts of the assembly do not project beyond the inner and outer sides of the sashes, and the additional fact that the slide members for supporting the lower sash are quite thin, the entire assembly may be mounted wholly within the area defined by the edges of the frame members I6 and 69 of a standard window frame, 1. e. within a space approximately one inch wide. The arrangement also provides for ready adjustment of the lower storm sash ii to furnish any desired amount of ventilation through the aperture which it normally covers. In this regard it is noted that no-draft ventilation may be obtained by raising the lower storm sash ii to a desired height and lowering the upper window sash l'l, so that air flow into and out of the room in which the window is provided must proceed over a path which includes the space between the storm sashes and the regular window sashes. In the usual installation, however, it is seldom that the upper window sash i1 is lowered for ventilation purposes. Under such circumstances, there is no necessity for removal of the upper storm sash in during either winter or summer. Thus, the only change required is that of substituting the screen 53 for the storm sash I i or vice versa, which operation may be accomplished in an extremely simple manner.

While there have been described what are at present considered to be the preferred embodiments of the invention, it will be understood that various modifications may be made therein which are within the true spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A storm window assembly including in combination slide members mounted upon the sides of a building window frame, a storm window slidable vertically in the slide members and having a frame substantially Z-shaped in cross section with a central hollow walled portion and flanges therefrom for respectively mounting the storm window in the slide members and supporting window glass thereon, a bracket mounted in each slide member having an engaging portion thereon, and slidable members one mounted along the bottom of the storm window on each side of the bottom thereof, each said s idable member having a cam portion at the outer end thereof, and each being slidable outwardly in opposite directions to one another to engage a corresponding bracket at its engaging portion in a camming operation to move the window frame into weather-seal engagement with the slide members and at the same time lock the storm window in a proper position in the building window frame.

2. A storm window assembly including in combination slide channels on the side of a buildingwindow-frame means, a storm window slidable vertically in the slide channels and having a frame with side portions substantially Z-shaped -in cross-section with a central hollow walled portion, a fin portion extending outwardly in one direction from the central portion to lie in a corresponding slide channel, and a second fin portion extending inwardly from the central portion in the opposite direction to support window glass therein, and cooperating means on said storm window and in each slide channel having a portion manually movable in a camming operation to move the outwardly extending fins of the window into weather-seal engagement with the corresponding slide channels.

3. A storm window assembly including in combination channelled slide members on the sides of a building-window-frame means, a storm window slidable vertically in the slide members and havin a frame with side portions substantially Z-shaped in cross-section, each such side portion comprising a central walled portion substantially square in cross-section with a fin extending outwardly from One corner of the central portion and a secondfin 9 extending inwardly from an oppositely disposed corner of the central portion. each of said firstnamed fins positioned in a corresponding chanl wumber nelled slide member and said second fins having a 7 glass supported thereon, and means in the storm window assembly acting at the first-named fins to maintain said fins in weather-seal engagement with said channelled slide members.

LANGDON M. JENNESS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are oi record in the file of'this patent:

Leacy Feb. 22, 1944 

